€2m in funding for local roads
MORE than a dozen local and rural roads around Cork County Council’s Kanturk/Mallow are set to undergo major works programmes though funding unveiled this week under the 2018 Community Improvement Scheme (CIS).
The Minister at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, this week announced that more than €2 million has been allocated to the authority under the scheme for remedial works to roads across its eight municipal districts in 2018 and 2019.
Through a joint approach between local residents and landowners the local authority, the CIS scheme is aimed at specifically addressing the condition of minor roads that would typically carry only small amounts of local traffic.
Under the initiative, 15% of the cost of works is covered by local community contributions, with the reminder being covered by funds from the CIS scheme.
Of the 49 roads approved for funding across Cork, 13 are in the Kanturk/Mallow area, with works at five roads at Dromsligo, Knocknakilla Castlemagner and Newmarket set to be undertaken this year.
The remaining eight roads, spread across the Mallow, Millstreet and Newmarket areas, will be done in 2019.
Cllr John Paul O’Shea (FG) welcomed the funding and commended the communities that applied to the scheme.
“Since 2009 overall the funding for road resurfacing has dropped so this is the only realistic way of improving small rural roads and cul-de-sacs,” said Cllr O’Shea.
“Council officials will be in contact with the successful applicants shortly to make arrangements for receiving their contributions so the works can be carried out.”
Cllr O’Shea said that should applicants on the 2018 list fail to make a payment or decide not to avail of the scheme the council would consider other applications and may push some of the works schedule for 2019 forward to this year.